Egypt Daily News – In a major escalation of Middle Eastern tensions, Israel has conducted a precision airstrike on Iran’s Arak nuclear facility, a heavy water reactor believed to be capable of producing weapons-grade plutonium. Satellite imagery released in the aftermath of the strike shows a significant crater at the site, highlighting the accuracy and potential strategic intent behind the operation.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed responsibility for the strike, citing concerns over the facility’s role in Iran’s nuclear weapons program. While Iranian state media acknowledged the attack, officials claimed the site had been evacuated prior to the strike and posed no radiological risk to nearby populations.
The attack has sharply heightened hostilities between Israel and Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned, “No one is immune,” following inflammatory remarks from his defense minister, who suggested that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei “can no longer be allowed to exist.” Such rhetoric signals a chilling escalation in the long-running shadow conflict between the two nations.
In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly issued an “evacuation notice” for Israel’s Dimona nuclear facility in the Negev Desert, mirroring similar IDF tactics previously used in Gaza, Lebanon, and Tehran. The IRGC’s warning, though symbolic, has raised alarms over the potential for a direct Iranian retaliatory strike.
Adding a layer of complexity to the crisis, former U.S. President Donald Trump has been drawn into the fray. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Trump allegedly approved preliminary plans during his presidency to support Israeli military action, including the potential use of bunker-buster bombs to target Iran’s fortified nuclear infrastructure. Trump, however, denied these claims on his Truth Social platform, insisting that no final order had been issued and expressing hope that Iran might yet choose a diplomatic path.
Amid these developments, an Israeli military official clarified that earlier reports mistakenly suggested Israel had targeted the Bushehr nuclear power plant rather than the Arak reactor. The official described the initial claim as an error, though no further details were provided.
With rhetoric intensifying and military actions escalating, analysts are warning that the region may be entering a highly volatile phase. Without immediate diplomatic intervention, the risk of a broader regional war, potentially involving direct U.S. engagement—continues to grow.
